Postage Stamps

[mariangela]

Does anyone have experience formatting a photo for a postage stamp? A friend who will be 90 years old soon asked me to take a picture suitable for a stamp she would like to use for her party invitations. It has been suggested that the photo is too high contrast and I should tone it down a bit, but I'm not having much success. I would appreciate any advice.
Many thanks.

[Jeff Perry]

Mariangela, I would suggest that if you crop it closly around the "model's" face and hat, that tyou will end up with a very nice "stamp". As it is, with all the background,, once reduced, the "model's" face will be so small that it won't be visible.

Crop and resize to postage stamp dimensions and print it our and see how it looks.

Jeff

[emkayess65]

Hi, what a nice idea.
Happy 90th to an interesting lady.

Panos has a free stamp action here:
http://www.panosfx.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=130

Choose your version of Elements and also download the installation instructions.

Panos' actions work really well. Check out his other free actions while you are there.
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1tj8kJXMUgcVIwAQw9L8o9mgIyp70_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1tj8kJXMUgcVIwAQw9L8o9mgIyp70)

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1sHHaRPzCuh4YlvX9zNcOng3kD2Uu_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1sHHaRPzCuh4YlvX9zNcOng3kD2Uu)

I like the stamp better with the greenery.

Good luck with your project.
mks

[SharLamb]

Or you can just make a copy of the photo (Ctrl J), then choose the solid black postage stamp using the cookie cutter tool. You'll find it in the "Objects" category (in PSE 5, the 6th row down, 5th shape from left). Drag the shape over her face and let go. You can put a 1 or 2 pixel stroke (outside) around it if you want. This all takes about 30 seconds. :) http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/15Fg6jrAWTtOGPuVAWZEU4E5uk8OYs1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=15Fg6jrAWTtOGPuVAWZEU4E5uk8OYs1) Shar

[SharLamb]

sorry...i was going to give you a link to what I did with the lady, but it turned out too small. I'll try again. Shar

[SharLamb]

Well, my second effort wasn't much better, but you can get the idea. Shar http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1w5dYFYjiMI5Vcuahyw39lQh49w6y00_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1w5dYFYjiMI5Vcuahyw39lQh49w6y00)

[emkayess65]

Hi, additional information.
The lady in your picture radiates personality.
I am fascinated by someone that old and having so much vibrance. Wow!
So here is a website where they actually make the stamps.

http://photo.stamps.com/Store/?source=si10985886

and a screen shot
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/12hDxwibGNDIt0IomqXcAlk9mAfj1_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=12hDxwibGNDIt0IomqXcAlk9mAfj1)

My son will be getting married next Spring and I am researchin wedding things - so this is very helpful for me too.

hth
mks

[mariangela]

Thanks to all who replied, for the advice, and for the link, which I will have a look at. Regarding cropping, I think I agree, and the stamp will probably look more like the attached--one of the options offered on the Canada Post website. My question was really about contrast. A professional photographer friend thought the contrast was too high, particularly as the finished article will be so small. Does anyone have any comments on that? I feel I'm at the point where I can't look at it objectively. She's such a lovely lady, and I'd like it to be done right.

[Wendy]

I love the photo just as it is ... :)

Wendy

[kevq]

Me too ......
Kev.

[mariangela]

Thanks again, everyone. I feel better about the photo because of your kind & helpful comments.